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Have you ever tried to brush the little one’s teeth and been so frustrated you just give up?!? I have! With 4 children of my own, I can tell you first hand that it’s not the easiest task to accomplish and each child is so different and will respond just a little differently. So if one of these techniques don’t work for you, just try, try again.

Tip #1: For the babies who are teething or whose teeth are just breaking through, chewing on a toothbrush is an excellent idea! No toothpaste needed, just the brush and lots of saliva!

Tip #2:For the little ones, just when they’re starting to get their teeth – You sit on the floor, criss-cross apple sauce, and lay their head in your lap with their legs facing away from you. (It will look like they’re laying in a dental chair, without the chair.) Then have them extend their chip up towards you as you lightly brush their teeth in circular motions, just doing the best you can. At first, you may be only able to brush for a few seconds, but after a while, they’ll get more used to it (and you, too) and before you know it, you’re brushing morning and night! There are finger brushes that you can try as well if they don’t like the toothbrush.

Tip #3: Use a timer. Any timer will do, just make sure that it stays in the bathroom where they’ll see it on the counter and use it. It can be a one minute timer, one minute for the top and then flip it and do it again for the bottom teeth. That way they are counting down to when they’re finished.

Tip #4: SING! Sometimes I sing so much that my children tell me to stop, however, it truly works. Find a song they like to sing or a number they like to count up to, and do it while you are brushing their teeth! Some songs that worked well for my littles were “Itsy Bisty Spider,” sung twice, The ABC song, Wheels on the Bus, or London Bridges. Whatever the song, decide how to break it up into two sections, brush the bottom teeth first, pause for a second to let them swallow and then finish on the top. They think it’s fun and brushing time will go quickly and end up being fun instead of a drag.

Most importantly…..BE PATIENT! It will come and eventually they will brush their teeth on their own. It just takes time and lots of patience. Don’t let this little thing become a battle early in their little lives. If you need extra tips or help, don’t be afraid to ask your hygienist on your next visit in to see us! Happy Brushing!

Flossing may seem like it is almost impossible when you are in braces. It can even seem intimidating. It is a fact that it takes longer to floss your teeth if you have traditional wired braces. Thankfully there are tools that can help take some of the hassle out of flossing around braces. Please read below for some suggestions.

Floss Threaders

These threaders are a great tool to help achieve getting your floss behind your wire and between your teeth. Simply grab a normal piece of floss and one threader. Thread the floss through the loop hole in the threader, the same way you would thread a needle. After you have threaded the floss threader, simply guide the threader behind your orthodontic wire and floss between your teeth. See picture below.

Super Floss

Super floss is a pre-threaded flosser. It consists of three parts. Part one is the stiffened needle-like end. Part two is the spongy floss. Part three is the regular floss. This one piece threaded floss is great for maneuvering around those orthodontic wires. The great thing about super floss is that you do not have to thread the floss at all; it is already done for you! The spongy part of the floss is great for those wider spaces between your teeth that you get while your teeth are moving and shifting while you are in braces. The traditional end of the floss is great for those tighter spaces. See picture below.

Proxabrushes

These small brushes are great for cleaning between the teeth and behind your orthodontic wires. Proxabrushes help to remove the plaque in those hard to reach areas which are commonly missed. To use these brushes, you simply guide the brush behind the wire and move the brush up and down cleaning any remaining plaque on the teeth after brushing.

Waterpik

Waterpiks, also known as water flossers, are great to use around orthodontic brackets and wires. They are easy and effective. You simply point the water flosser between your teeth along the gumline and let the water spray between the teeth. Water flossers help to remove plaque and food debris in those hard to reach areas.

*If you would like a demonstration on any of these products please ask your dentist or dental hygienist at your next dental visit.